Ryanair Fully Mobile App QR Boarding Passes

Grumpy_chap

I am really rather a dinosaur when it comes to using apps for things that I think can be done easier by paper.  Notwithstanding that, when we flew RyanAir a year ago, we actually found the app was actually quite good and it allowed for regular updates about flight status, impacts of the fog, gate number, boarding details etc.

We did also take a printed version of the boarding passes which is what we used for check-in / baggage drop.  RyanAir had semi-automated self-service bag drop and we used the printed version of the boarding passes / barcode.  I really can't imagine that these self-service bag drop facilities will know or care whether you scanned a barcode on the phone or a barcode from a piece of paper, unless there are focused CCTV and a swat team ready to pounce and fine anyone daring to use a piece of paper rather than phone screen.

flaneurs_lobster

Grumpy_chap said:

 I really can't imagine that these self-service bag drop facilities will know or care whether you scanned a barcode on the phone or a barcode from a piece of paper, unless there are focused CCTV and a swat team ready to pounce and fine anyone daring to use a piece of paper rather than phone screen.

Mr O'L will presumably incentivise his staff to spot ink'n'paper deviants in the same way that he has them reporting oversize cabin bag perverts - in fact it's the next obvious money saver, move grassing up passengers onto the app and let his punters get 5 EUR off their next booking by dobbing in each other.

eskbanker

Grumpy_chap said:

RyanAir had semi-automated self-service bag drop and we used the printed version of the boarding passes / barcode.  I really can't imagine that these self-service bag drop facilities will know or care whether you scanned a barcode on the phone or a barcode from a piece of paper, unless there are focused CCTV and a swat team ready to pounce and fine anyone daring to use a piece of paper rather than phone screen.

When I've used such services, there's typically a human being reviewing boarding passes and passports prior to allowing access to the area where the machines themselves are.

Grumpy_chap

eskbanker said:

When I've used such services, there's typically a human being reviewing boarding passes and passports prior to allowing access to the area where the machines themselves are.

I don't particularly recall there being any staff involved and nor do I have the certainty to say there was no-one checking things.
My overwhelming recollection is how quick and queue-less the bag drop / check in process was, all operating very simply and quickly and letting us get on our way to security.  Rather faster than BA usually are, even when travelling BC.

bagand96

Grumpy_chap said:

I am really rather a dinosaur when it comes to using apps for things that I think can be done easier by paper.  Notwithstanding that, when we flew RyanAir a year ago, we actually found the app was actually quite good and it allowed for regular updates about flight status, impacts of the fog, gate number, boarding details etc.

We did also take a printed version of the boarding passes which is what we used for check-in / baggage drop.  RyanAir had semi-automated self-service bag drop and we used the printed version of the boarding passes / barcode.  I really can't imagine that these self-service bag drop facilities will know or care whether you scanned a barcode on the phone or a barcode from a piece of paper, unless there are focused CCTV and a swat team ready to pounce and fine anyone daring to use a piece of paper rather than phone screen.

Also think the Ryanair app is pretty good, easy to use regular updates and notifications on the day of travel. Many other airlines could certainly learn a thing or two from it. 

eskbanker

It does seem to be the norm to slate budget airlines but I agree that the experience isn't necessarily any worse than their more expensive competitors in general, although obviously there will always be horror stories with any customer-facing businesses.

Likewise, it's usually best to take their PR with at least a pinch of salt, but I do accept their point about the increasing number of ticketed sporting and musical events requiring similar digital-only access, so it's not as if there's some basic human right being contravened if a low-cost airline chooses to mandate this....

zagfles

flaneurs_lobster said:

Slinky said:

With regards trying to get a signal at checkin, we take screen grabs of the QR codes and share with each other when we fly EJ.

Think you'll find that the EJ app will store those boarding cards locally (all cards for the same booking) so will be OK without a mobile signal. You can also double up and hold them in the Google Wallet (if you're Android, I'm sure there's an Apple equivalent).

No idea if the Ryanair app does the same thing.

Doesn't get round the dead phone problem although two or more travelling together can have the same cards on alternate devices.

Every airline's mobile app I've used works fine without a signal to display a mobile boarding pass. I don't know why people seem to think you can't use mobile apps without a signal, of course you can, apps can store stuff locally (like boarding passes). It would be an incredibly rubbish airline app that needs a signal to display a boarding pass, I doubt any airline's IT dept are that incompetent!

zagfles

Grumpy_chap said:

I am really rather a dinosaur when it comes to using apps for things that I think can be done easier by paper.  Notwithstanding that, when we flew RyanAir a year ago, we actually found the app was actually quite good and it allowed for regular updates about flight status, impacts of the fog, gate number, boarding details etc.

We did also take a printed version of the boarding passes which is what we used for check-in / baggage drop.  RyanAir had semi-automated self-service bag drop and we used the printed version of the boarding passes / barcode.  I really can't imagine that these self-service bag drop facilities will know or care whether you scanned a barcode on the phone or a barcode from a piece of paper, unless there are focused CCTV and a swat team ready to pounce and fine anyone daring to use a piece of paper rather than phone screen.

Paper boarding passes use barcodes whereas mobile passes use QR codes. They are different things. If they stop paper boarding passes you'd need a QR code, might be possible to print one...

Barkin

zagfles said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Slinky said:

With regards trying to get a signal at checkin, we take screen grabs of the QR codes and share with each other when we fly EJ.

Think you'll find that the EJ app will store those boarding cards locally (all cards for the same booking) so will be OK without a mobile signal. You can also double up and hold them in the Google Wallet (if you're Android, I'm sure there's an Apple equivalent).

No idea if the Ryanair app does the same thing.

Doesn't get round the dead phone problem although two or more travelling together can have the same cards on alternate devices.

Every airline's mobile app I've used works fine without a signal to display a mobile boarding pass. I don't know why people seem to think you can't use mobile apps without a signal, of course you can, apps can store stuff locally (like boarding passes). 

Indeed. Boarding passes can also be saved in Google Wallet. Again, no connectivity required. Likewise a screenshot. Or save as e.g. a PDF.

I don't know why folks invent "problems" that don't exist...🤔

flaneurs_lobster

Barkin said:

zagfles said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Slinky said:

With regards trying to get a signal at checkin, we take screen grabs of the QR codes and share with each other when we fly EJ.

Think you'll find that the EJ app will store those boarding cards locally (all cards for the same booking) so will be OK without a mobile signal. You can also double up and hold them in the Google Wallet (if you're Android, I'm sure there's an Apple equivalent).

No idea if the Ryanair app does the same thing.

Doesn't get round the dead phone problem although two or more travelling together can have the same cards on alternate devices.

Every airline's mobile app I've used works fine without a signal to display a mobile boarding pass. I don't know why people seem to think you can't use mobile apps without a signal, of course you can, apps can store stuff locally (like boarding passes). 

Indeed. Boarding passes can also be saved in Google Wallet. Again, no connectivity required. Likewise a screenshot. Or save as e.g. a PDF.

I don't know why folks invent "problems" that don't exist...🤔

You could probably have the QR code tattooed on your forehead and it would still be a valid code BUT, to go back to the OP, Ryanair seem to be insisting that the QR code be shown on their app.